Concentration of ores.



F. J. LYSTER.

, CONCENTRATION OF ORES. APPUCATION F|L\ED JULY 8. 1916.

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m. LYS IER. CONCENTRATION OF QRES APPLICATION FILED lugv 8.1916.

1,203,374.. Patented Oct. 31, 1916.

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fiaerdaf:

FLEURY JAMES IIYSTER, OF BROKEN HILL,

PATENT-OFFIC NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA, ASSIGNOR,

BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, .TO MINERALS SEPARATION AMERICAN SYNDICATE (lgl3) LIMITED, 01 LONDON, ENGLAND.

CONCENTRATION OF oRns.

Specification of Letters Patent. .Patenfed f; 31, 1916;

Original application filed May 8, 1913, Serial No. 766,346 Divided and this application filed .Tu1y 8, 19 16.

- Serial No. 108,208.

new and useful Improvements in the Concentration of Ores, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, forming part thereof. r

This. invention relates to improvements in the concentration of ores and is particularly applicable to the separationof 'mixed zinc and lead sulfid ores, and this application is a division of my application filed May 8, 1913, Serial No. 766,346. v

The object of this invention is to separate metalliferous portions of an ore'such, for example, as the sulfid of lead (galena) from other portions of the-ore, and more particularly to effect 'a differential or selective flotation in the treatmentmf mixed zinc and lead sulfied ores, to wit: the separation of lead sulfid (galena) from zinc sulfid (blende), obtaining a'p'roduct relatively rich in lead on the one hand, and a zinc product relatively low in lead "on the other hand.

I have discovered that sulfid' of lead (galena) may be separated from sulfid of zinc; (blende) by subjedting the ore or metalliferous materials to a flotation-separation treatment at. a low temperature with eucalyptus oil or other frothing agent and with .35 agitation or aeration in a neutral or alkaline solution of thechlorid of a-metal such as.

sodium chlorid and that alkalinity produced in said solutionby an alkaline hydrate in some instances promotes the separation.

40 The suitability of anygivensubstance in a neutral or alkaline solution can be easily determined by a laboratory test as hereinafter described. I v

In carrying this process'into eflect a plant ,45 similar to that employed in and common to' agitation froth processes may be employed. I have shown in the accompanying drawings two forms of apparatus adapted for carrying out my process.

-60 Figure l is a longitudinal elevation and Fig. 2 a cross-section of a unit with the supply devices in elevation, and Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of an apparatus suitable for testing. I will now describe my process-as carried out in the'appa'ratus shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The ore is first ground to a suitable degree of fineness (preferably to slimes so that the different metallic sulfid particles are disassociated from each other). This ,finely ground 'ore with its accompanyingcircuit water (which is a solution such as herein-w. before described) is led into a settlerj orf thickener A to remove excess water; The

I thickened pulp is thenled into a vessel B,

from which it passes to the first centrifugal pumpC of the series G (1 ,0 CiQC, C5 These centrifugal pumps are each connected to the individual members of a correspo 'd v ing series of separating boxes D ,.D D D These centrifugal pumps act a, agitators or mixers and means are. provided (such as an inlet pipe E) for feeding in the requisite ,amount of eucalyptus, oil or other.

frothing agent, about 2lbs. per ton of mix-- terial treated, as well as the requisite amount of air (such as by a tap F) into the suction pipe G thereof, which is connected to the. feed vessel B. The centrifugal pump C draws in pulp, air, and frothing agent, and produces an intimate mixture which is dis I charged through the outlet pipe H to the separator box D the delivery of the pump' being controlled by the, admission of air'b the tap- F; The particles of lead sulfi (galena) arefound to rise to the top of the. separator box D where an inverted pyra- -mid J diverts the froth toward the dischargelip or launder K, from which it t flows to the receptacle for settling and 001- lecting the lead concentrate." The particles which do not rise or float, together with the ,balance of the water, sink to the bottom of the boxD and are there withdrawn by the outlet pipe L which is connected] to thesuc- 'tion pipe Gr of the next pumpi C of the series, and the operation is repeated, the residues of the separator box D passing to the centrifugal pump C of the next in series. companying drawings there are six separator boxes and their attendant pumps, which comprise one'series or unit, but it will be understood that this number is de- In the plant illustrated in the ac- 10C y from What are known as calcitic shines at Broken Hill that an excessive alkalinity tends to retard the selective flotation of the lead suifid particles. Therefore, when the process is used with this ore for this pur pose with an alkaline solution, the solution should be only slightly alkaline but sufiicient I to respond to the well known methyl orange test. 7

The suitability of the substances hereinbefore indicated and the proportion thereof to the solution and the degree and duration of agitation or aeration of the material treated can be determined in a laboratory testwhich maybe conducted as follows in an apparatus such as is illustrated in Fig.

3"of-f'the accompanying drawings. This apparatus comprises an agitating. or mixing vessel "Nhaving a rotating impeller O, a separating box P on the side thereof connected to them'ixer by a passage R and by a flexible hose pipe S at the bottom. In

carrying out a test the mixing vessel N contains the solution which corresponds with the circuit water of the working plant, and eucalyptus or other frothing agent is then added in measured quantities. The impeller O is then rotated at about 1700' revolutions per minute and a charge of about 448 grams of ore is fed in. Sufficient solution is added to fill the se arating box P to the level of its discharge ip. The agitated pulp is forced.

through the passage R into the separating box P and thefioat or froth rising to the surface is skimmed off over the lip. The pulp is "continuously circulated bybeing drawn from the bottom of the box P by the pipe S back into the mixer N by the action.

of the impeller O. The flotation is continued until the float or froth is noticedby observation to become lower in lead and the zinc begins to appear therein. The appearance of the concentrate being. skimmed ofi over to the lip of the separating box will indicate the duration of agitation necessary 'to obtain agood concentrate combined with -a good recovery, while experience will indicate the amount of frothing agent necessary, and further quantities may be added at intervals as found necessary. The residue is run off from the bottom of the machine by disconnecting the flexible hose of pipe- S. Repeated trials with different solutions which have been used by me inobtaining aselective separation the zinc sulfids in the ore heretofore referred to, known as calcitic slimes at Broken- Hill, to Which my process is peculiarly well suited, averaging about eleven- (1l%) per cent. of zinc and aboutthirteen (13%) per cent. of lead, using about from two (2) to five (5) lbs. of eucalyptus oil per ton.

Sodium chlorid 800 grains per gallon. {Sodium iiglol'id 800 w Calcium hydrate 1.8 f Sodium chlorld soo' with Calcium hydrate 3. 6 Sodium chlorid 800 with Calcium hydrate 18 Potassium .chlorid 800 {Potassium .chlorid 800 w Calcium hydrate 1. 8 Potassium chlorid 800 with 7 Calcium hydrate 3. 6 {Potassium chl0rid a 800 w Calcium hydrate 18 Calcium chlolid 300 f Calcium chloriduni 300 with Calcium hydratc 1.8 Calcium chlorid 300 with Calcium hydrate 3.6 Barium chlorid 300 Barium chlorid 300 with (alcium hydrate 4. 1.8 Barium chlorid 300 with Calcium hydrate 3. 6 Magnesium chloridk 300 Magnesium chlorid 300 with Calcium hydrate 1. 8 Magnesium chlorid 300 with Calcium hydrate 3. 6

I have further discovered that the residues'obtained as before described containing the bulk of the zinc 'sulfids may be further treated by flotation separation to produce a concentrate rich in zinc by first dewatering and thickening the pulp and then submitting it to a repetition of the flotation separation, using, however, sufficient water in lieu of the solution previously employed, or by further continuing the process hereinbefore described, after the recovery of the lead sulfids (galena) in a separate dezincing unit until the zinc sulfids (blende) appear upon the surface of the solution and are carried over into the launder hereinbefore mentioned. In operation I prefer the former to the latter method for the recovery of the zinc sulfids (blende). In

this way a zinc concentrate may be obtained and thereby both the lead sulfids and zinc of the lead sultids from sulfids recovered in separate products by flotation separation without recourse to separation by gravitation or tables or Vanners as heretofore.

I claim:

1. A process of concentrating ores which consists in agitating and aerating an orc pulp containing in solution a chlorid of a metal in quantity sufficient to substantially facilitate the formation of a froth of concentrates, and separating the froth.

2. A process of concentrating ores which consists in agitating and aerating an ore pulp containing a small proportion of a frothing agent and conta ning 1n solution a chlorid of a metal in quantity sufiicient to substantially facilitate the formation of a froth of concentrates, and separating the froth. s

3. A process of concentrating ores which consists inagitatingand aerating an ore pulp containing in solution an alkaline hydrate and a chlorid ofa metal in quantity sufficient to substantially facilitate the formation of a froth of concentrates, and sepa-" rating the froth.

4. A process of concentrating ores Which consists inagitating and aerating an ore pulp containing a small proportion of a frothing agent and containing in solution an alkaline hydrate and a chlorid of ametal in quantity sufficient to substantially facilitate the formation of a froth of concentrates, and separating the froth.

5. A process of concentrating ores which consists in agitating and aerating an ore pulp containing sodium chlorid in solution in quantity sufficient to substantially facilitate the formation of a froth of. concentrates, and separating the froth.

6. A- process of concentrating ores which consists in agitating and aerating an ore pulp containing a small proportion of a frothing agent and containing sodium chlorid in solution in quantity sufficient to substantially facilitate the formation of a froth of'concentrates, and separating the froth.

7. A process of concentrating ores which consists 1n agitatlng and aerating an ore "pulp containing in solution an alkaline hydrate and sodium chlorid'in quantity sufficient to-substantially facilitate the formation of a froth of concentrates, and/separat pulp containing in solution calcium hydrate and a chlorid of a metal in'quantity sufficientto substantially facilitate the formation of a froth of concentrates, and separating the froth.

, 10. A process of concentrating ores which consists in agitating and aerating an ore pulp containing, a small proportion. of a ,frothing agent andcontaining in solution calcium hydrate and a chlorid of a metal in quantity sufficient to substantially facili' tate the formation of a froth of concentrates, and separating the froth.

11. A process of concentrating ores which consists in agitating and aerating an ore pulp containing in solution calcium hydrate and sodium chlorid in quantity sufficient to substantially facilitate the formation of a froth of concentrates, and froth. I

12. A process of concentrating ores which consists inagitating and aerating an ore pulp containing a small proportion of a frothing agent and. containing in solution calcium hydrate and sodium chlorid in l' quantity sufficient to substantially facilitate the formation of a froth of concentrates, and separating the froth.

13. A process for the separation of lead sulfids from zinc sulfids in an ore containing mixed lead and zinc sulfids which consists in subjecting such an ore to the agi- Y separating the tation froth process by agitationin apulp;

containing in solution a chlorid of a metal in quantity sufficient to substantially facilitate the formation of a froth of concentrates wherein the lead sulfids predominate."

14. A process forthe separation of lead sulfids from. 7 lI1C sulfids in an ore containing mixed lead and zinc sulfids which consists in subjecting such an ore to the agita tion froth process by agitation in a pulp containing a small proportion of a frothing f agent and containing in solution a chlorid of a metal in quantity sufficient to substantially facilitate the formation of a froth of concentrates wherein the lead sulfids predominate.

15. A process sulfids from zinc sulfids in an ore containing mixed lead and zinc sulfids which consists in subjecting such an ore to the agitation froth process by agitation in a pulp containfor the separation of lead 1 ing. in solution an alkaline hydrate and. a

chlorid of a metal in quantity suflicient to substantially facilitate the formation-of a froth of concentrates wherein the lead sulfids predominate.

16. A process for the separation of lead sulfids from zinc sulfids in an ore containing mixed lead and vzinc sulfidswhich consists in subjecting such an ore to the agitation froth process by agitation in a pulp containing a small proportion of a frothing agent and containing in solution an alkaline hydrate and a chlorid of a metal in quantity suflicient to substantially facilitate the formation of a froth of concentrates wherein the lead sulfids predominate.

17. A process for the separation of lead sulfids from zinc sulfids in an ore containing mixed lead and zinc sulfids which consists in subjecting suchwan ore to the agitation froth process by agitation in a pulp containing sodi'um chlorid in solution in quan} tity sufficient to substantially facilitate the formation of a froth of concentrates Where- H in. the lead sulfids predominate.

18. A process for'the separation of lead sulfids from zinc sulfids in an ore containing mixed lead and. zinc sulfids which con: sists in subjecting such an ore to the agitation froth process by agitation in a pulp froth of concentrates wherein the lead sulfids predominate.

20. A process for the separation of lead sulfids from zinc sulfids in an ore containtion of a froth of concentrates ing mixed lead and zinc sulfids which consists iii-subjecting such an ore to the agitation froth process by'agitation in a pulp containing a small proportion of a frothing agent and containing in solution an alkaline hydrate and sodium chlorid in quantity suflicient to substantially facilitate the formawherein the lead sulfids predominate.

21. A process for the separation of lead sulfids from zinc sulfids in an ore containa froth f; of concentrates sulfids predominate.

ing mixed lead and zinc sulfids which consists in subjecting such an ore tothe agitation froth process byagitation in a pulp containing in solution calcium hydrate and a chlorid of a metal in quantity 'suflicient to substantially facilitate the formation 01' wherein the lead 22. A process for the separation of lead sulfids from zinc sulfids in an ore contain ing mixed lead and zinc sulfids which consists in subjecting such an ore to the agitation froth process by agitation in a pulp containing a small proportion of a frothing agent and containing in solution calcium hydrate and a chlorid. of a metal in quantity sufficient to substantially facilitate the .formation of a froth of concentrates wherein the lead sulfids predominate.

23.'A process forthe. separation of lead sulfids from zinc sulfids in an ore contain' ing mixed lead and zinc sulfids which consists in subjecting such an ore to the agita tion froth process byagitation in apulp containing in solution calcium hydrate and sodium chlorid in quantity suificient to substantiallyfacilitate the formation of a froth of concentrates wherein the lead sulfids pre dominate.

24:. A process for the separation of lead sulfids from zinc sulfids in an ore contain ing mixed lead and zinc sulfids which consists in subjecting such an ore to the agitation froth process by agitation in a pulp containing a small proportion of a frothing agent and containing in solution calcium hydrate and sodium chlorid in quantity sufficient to substantially facilitate the formation of a froth of concentrates wherein the lead sulfids predominate.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my I signature. I FLEURY JAMES LYSTER. Witnesses:

-Anrnnn Gonn CoLmsoN,

Fnonnxon MANTHORPE. 

